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Promotion Tournaments and Capital Rationing

Author

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  • Han, Bing

    (Ohio State U)

  • Hirshleifer, David
  • Persons, John

Abstract

We analyze capital allocation in a conglomerate where divisional managers with uncertain abilities compete for promotion to CEO. A manager can sometimes gain by unobservably adding variance to divisional output. Capital rationing can limit this distortion, increase productive efficiency, and allow the owner to make more accurate promotion decisions. Firms in which the CEO has a greater span of control are more likely to use capital rationing. A rationed manager is more likely to be promoted even though all managers are identical ex ante. Overconfidence can increase a manager’s likelihood of promotion and can even benefit the (fully rational) owner.

Suggested Citation

  • Han, Bing & Hirshleifer, David & Persons, John, 2005. "Promotion Tournaments and Capital Rationing," Working Paper Series 2005-20, Ohio State University, Charles A. Dice Center for Research in Financial Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecl:ohidic:2005-20
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    File URL: http://www.cob.ohio-state.edu/fin/dice/papers/2005/2005-20.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G39 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Other
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General

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